State BJP chief seeks PM''s intervention to rescue Punjab from drug abuse

Ravi S.Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 19

Punjab BJP president and MP Shwait Malik on Thursday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to rid Punjab of the menace of rampant drug addiction, accusing the state government of apathy in the matter.

Raising the issue during "Zero Hour" in Rajya Sabha, Malik said the easy distribution and availability of drugs, the malaise of addiction has assumed an alarming proportion which calls for emergency measures to check-mate it.

"The entire state is gasping on account of the detrimental effect of the addiction.

 I urge the Prime Minister and the Union government to step in to save Punjab," Malik said, adding that the present youth and coming generation are in peril and need to be rescued.

"The Congress had made a poll promise to provide education to the youth, but instead supplies of contrabands are now made directly to houses and doorsteps of people under its government," he added.

Due to failure of the Capt Amarinder Singh government to check supply of drug, mothers stand vigil in houses to prevent their sons from malefic and enticing influence of drug peddlers, he added.

He said it is a heart-rending irony that Punjab, which was once food basket and inspire confidence among the people of the country has now  been converted into a "drug basket". The drug abuse phenomenon has also given rise to other kinds of social evils, he added.